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Issues in Educational Research, 2019, Vol 29(1), 205-222.
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Challenges facing novice principals: A study in Colombian schools using a socialisation perspective

Clelia Pineda-Báez, Rosario Bernal-Luque, Luz Yolanda Sandoval-Estupiñan and Crisanto Quiroga
Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia

This research examined challenges faced by novice principals in Colombia in connecting to their school communities through their socialisation processes. Interviews with 37 newly appointed principals in rural and urban schools revealed that the complexity of their school contexts accentuated the need to work on the relational dimension of their jobs. Forging relationships with teachers and parents based on trust and communication, introspection and knowledge about their school communities emerged as crucial factors to foster social justice and to transcend deficit views of their communities. The article questions the role of supporting services for novice principals, emphasises the importance of organisational socialisation, and stresses the role of preparation programs in providing principals with tools for learning during this phase of their professional careers.
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Authors: Dr Clelia Pineda-Báez is Associate Professor, School of Education, Universidad de La Sabana in Cundinamarca, Colombia. Her main research interest are educational leadership, student engagement, retention, and bilingual education.
Address: Campus del Puente del Común, Km. 7, Autopista Norte de Bogotá. Chía, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
Email: clelia.pineda@unisabana.edu.co

Rosario Bernal-Luque is a full time teacher at the School of Education, Universidad de La Sabana, Columbia. Her research focuses on leadership, teachers' identities, social pedagogy and citizenship.
Email: rosario.bernal@unisabana.edu.co

Dr Luz Yolanda Sandoval-Estupiñan is a Professor in the Doctoral Program in Education in Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia. Her research focuses on principal leadership, school management and administration.
Email: luz.sandoval@unisabana.edu.co

Crisanto Quiroga is Director of the specialisation program in Educational Management, Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia. His research interests are educational management and leadership.
Email: crisanto.quiroga@unisabana.edu.co

Please cite as: Pineda-Báez, C., Bernal-Luque, R., Sandoval-Estupiñan, L. Y. & Quiroga, C. (2019). Challenges facing novice principals: A study in Colombian schools using a socialisation perspective. Issues in Educational Research, 29(1), 205-222. http://www.iier.org.au/iier29/pineda-baez.pdf


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Created 19 Jan 2019. Last correction: 19 Jan 2019.
Website: Roger Atkinson [rjatkinson@bigpond.com]